Dr Sarah Jarvis Eye Problems

While opticians were closed at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, most are now offering routine check-ups as well as more urgent treatment. As well as assessing whether you need new glasses or contact lenses, your optician will check the health of the cells at the back of the eye. They’ll also measure the pressure inside your eye – without this, you won’t know if you have glaucoma, which can damage your eyesight permanently.

Styes are common, uncomfortable and unsightly but rarely cause serious problems. They’re a type of infection of the eyelid which start in an eyelash follicle. As with w many infections, th he first you’ll notice is of ften soreness, redness a nd a small red lump. This T centres on the hair fo ollicle affected, and in ti ime pus may develop in nside it, leading the stye s to come to a head and a discharge. This will relieve the pressure and discomfort and the condition will often settle on its own.

Styes are usually caused by a germ that normally lives harmlessly on your skin. If this gets inside the hair follicle it can multiply, leading to infection – it’s the same germ that causes some abscesses and spots. If you rub your eyes a lot, or have a condition called blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids) you may be more prone to styes.

Most styes don’t need treatment. However, hot (but not too hot!) compresses, with a clean flannel applied regularly to the closed eyelid for 5-10 minutes, can help to draw the pus out. Avoid eye make-up, contact lenses or sharing towels or flannels while you have a stye.

Conjunctivitis, or “pink eye” is a minor inflammation of the surface layer of the eye. Your eye can feel gritty, itchy or sore but shouldn’t be painful and your eyesight should not be affected. There are two main causes – infection and allergy. The infectious type is very easily caught from someone else or spread from one eye to the other. It often settles on its own, or you can get antibiotic drops from your pharmacist.

The allergic type tends to come on quickly, affect both eyes and occur at the same time each year (eg during hay fever season). Your eyes may be watery but, unlike with infectious conjunctivitis, they’re rarely sticky. You can help by not rubbing your eyes and avoiding the cause of the allergy if you can. Otherwise,

IF YOU STRUGGLE WITH DRY, TIRED EYES, YOUR PHARMACIST CAN ADVISE ON DROPS’’ A RANGE OF LUBRICATING EYE

antihistamines or drops from your pharmacist may help.

Unlike conjunctivitis, an infection of the deeper layer of the eye is a medical emergency. You should always seek urgent help if you have a red eye accompanied by severe pain, changes to your vision that don’t settle when you blink, extreme sensitivity to light, can’t open your eye due to pain, or have severe headache or vomiting with eye pain.

Flashing lights and/or a sudden increase in floaters can signal a detached retina, which can be sight-threatening if not treated promptly.

These days we’re spending more time than ever at our computers. Contrary to the old wives’ tales, too much screen time won’t damage your eyesight permanently, but it can certainly lead to sore, watery or tired eyes and

A SUDDEN LOSS OF VISION IN ONE EYE IS ALWAYS A MEDICAL EMERGENCY – ALONG WITH A STROKE, IT COULD SIGNAL A BLOCKAGE IN THE ARTERY OR VEIN OF THE EYE

headaches. One of the main reasons are lack of blinking – the tear film that lubricates the front of your eye is constantly evaporating, so needs to be replaced. The other is squinting to see the screen if your device isn’t at the right distance from your eyes or your eyes haven’t been checked and your vision corrected.

Make sure you get regular optician checks – at least every 2 years, every year once you’re over 40 if glaucoma runs in your family, or more often if your optician advises.

And follow the “20-20-20” rule: every 20 minutes, take a 20-second break and focus your eyes on something at least 20 feet away. Blinking 20 times when you do this can also help.

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